No loose articles in Top Thrill 2's queue (and no free lockers either)

Six Fair is going to have $4+ billion in debt to pay on once the merger happens. Somebody has to pay that bill so congrats park guests! Revenue, revenue, revenue!!!

Joking aside, it’s noticeable from Tony’s ride posting that there is noticeable vibration for riders and clearing the top hat is taken slightly faster creating stronger negative G’s 420 feet in the air. I suspect both are playing a role in this late decision to change ride policy to prevent any further injuries which would literally be a PR disaster for the park.

While I'm not suggesting that debt doesn't matter, debt is a part of doing business. It becomes an issue when their cash flow makes it difficult to cover the terms due on that debt. I don't think that's going to be an issue in the short term, but whether or not people come back to spend money will certainly have an impact on their long-term prognosis.

But profits now!!! Someone else will figure out everything in 10 years.

Literally what is wrong with 95% of this country.

If I may, Top Thrill Dragster in its original form prohibited a substantial amount of loose articles, like glasses, and the only option for storage were paid lockers. Millennium Force as well. Other than this being a bit stricter, I don’t see how it’s that different than it was in the past.

I didn’t particularly like the old way, mind you. Chalk up another vote for Universal being super good at this, although I think their loose article policy is a bit over-the-top in its own right.

After riding it, I can be sure that talk of lockers and loose articles feels kinda dumb. TR to come.

Once again, instead of having a system or solution to provide the best guest experience (which is a factor in attendance growth) Cedar Fair chooses the route of gouging the current customers for short term profits.

This is the part in the script where someone points out that the average person doesn't understand the definition of price gouging. Price gouging is charging $50 for a case of bottled water when the water supply is contaminated. Price gouging is charging $5000 for a Honda generator when the power is off after a hurricane. Price gouging is not charging $10 for a locker to store items that you chose to take with you in an amusement park that you've entered on your own free will during your vacation. I think this locker situation is a little silly on the part of the park, but it is not price gouging.

I would also like to point out that, despite all of the hand-wringing here over this news, the average guest will show up to the park with no prior knowledge of the policy, gladly pay the fee for the locker, and come back and do it again later.

super7*:

Cedar Fair chooses the route of gouging the current customers for short term profits.

But think of all the locker revenue they will lose on all of the days they close early for weather.

The station kinda leaves a lot to be desired. I wish they would have put in a fence or clear glass windows so you could see the train go by instead of boxing it in with a big metal wall.

Maybe this is news, but they are bound and determined to put their safest foot forward with this ride.

Lockers SHOULD be free!!!!

The entrance plaza and white wall in the station reminds me, of all things, Test Track here at Epcot.

I feel like folks are confusing voicing displeasure in a decision as protesting or canceling. Am I upset about this? Yes. Am I still going to go to Cedar Point multiple times this summer and ride TT2? Also yes. I know the constant refrain is "Speak with your wallet" but speaking with your voice (or keyboard) has more effect than saying nothing at all.

I would also like to point out that, despite all of the hand-wringing here over this news, the average guest will show up to the park with no prior knowledge of the policy, gladly pay the fee for the locker, and come back and do it again later.

Don't be so sure about that. First, if I'm not mistaken, Cedar Point tried this with Steel Vengeance, but then opted for free lockers not long after. I doubt this was out of the goodness of their hearts. This change also didn't need a protest to motivate it. Second, if Cedar Point wasn't worried about initial guest reaction, they would have never posted this policy ahead of time. They would have just, as you said, allowed people to show up with no prior knowledge of the policy, gladly pay the fee for the locker, and comeback and do it again later. But they did post it because they likely remember the response to Steel Vengeance's paid lockers. And third, even if park guests have never been to another park in their lives, they have an example of a coaster that doesn't allow loose articles, but provides free lockers...Steel Vengeance. In fact, if I were a park guest, I'd come to a worst conclusion about why this is happening than the reality...that Cedar Point wants to take advantage of us wanting to ride their new coaster by forcing us to pay for a locker and that in a few years, once the hype has died down, they will offer the lockers for free. They did it with Steel Vengeance, so why not this (again, this is not the real reason).

In a time when everything feels more expensive, this is yet another thing.

And please don't get me wrong, I have a ton of pride and history in Cedar Point. I frequented Guide to the Point before there were forums. I want Cedar Point to be the premier park folks saw it as. This issue is not the end of the world alone. It's when you combine it with a lot of other things that make it crappy. I love parks like Dollywood and Hershey Park looks so much fun. There is no reason why Cedar Point should be outshined by those parks and yet it is because they give a better experience. Cedar Point should be focused on that.

...okay, I swear I'm done...

I don't doubt that there's some level of getting out in front of it, but I still would contend that caters to a niche group. A lot of people will visit the park without seeing the social media post or especially the blog post on the website. And they'll be completely ignorant of the idea that they're supposed to be igdignant about it. I don't doubt that some of the predictions of what happens with this will come true, but the assumption that there's going to be some widespread rage are overestimated.

I don't think anyone is suggesting widespread rage. There's no I HATE CEADAR PINOT!@@ coming from these fingertips; in fact quite the opposite. When I said I love Cedar Point I actually meant that; it's maybe the most meaningful of destinations for me personally for a myriad of reasons. Which is why I annoyingly care about things like this.

It's undeniably true that people will still line up, pay the "nominal fee", and ride. Personally, we always get a moveable locker anyway to stash what little we bring in with us, so I wouldn't be using any locker (including the free SV ones) anywhere anyway. It's little s%$ like this that, as Jephry perfectly stated...

Jephry:

In a time when everything feels more expensive, this is yet another thing.

The point is, the park had (er, has) an opportunity staring right at them to make a small gesture towards looking awesome and giving the facade, at least, that they still hold onto a shred of that "have your best day" attitude.

It's not the cost, it's the little things. They mean something. Totally on board with no loose articles, and I don't think not making the lockers free was a nefarious decision, just short-sighted.

Jeff:

After riding it, I can be sure that talk of lockers and loose articles feels kinda dumb.

Of course the ride is so awesome that it floods your brain with so much dopamine that you stop caring about 1) how long you had to wait or 2) how much that fast lane plus cost or 3) the fact that there was a nominal fee for the locker or 4) you might even forget there was a fee to begin with.

That's the game, and three cheers, really, for finding a way to turn a small patch of real estate into a temporary, short-term money maker.

Lost opportunity to be better. I also realize that suggestion would get me laughed out of a board meeting at today's Cedar Point.

kpjb:

A wallet in a zippered pocket has never flown out in the history of roller coasters.

I know this is a totally different ball of wax, but it's a funny anecdote. I took my kiddos to Magic Mountain for spring break a few weeks ago and we were about to get on Tatsu as the first ride of the day. My kiddos gave me their 2 phones (so now 3 in total) and I stuck them in my snap cargo pocket. My 12 y.o. asked if that was secure and if we weren't better off putting them on the shelf. I told him that I have never, in the history of my riding, had anything leave a securely snapped pocket. We get on the ride, have a fun time, I hop off and...only 1 phone is in my pocket. Panic ensues, I talk to the op, he says they do a sweep at the end of the day but Tatsu is over woods and mountains and I'm pretty discouraged. We leave the station and try to look at the ground under the track as we walk down the exit ramp. A few moments later an op comes running and says they found 2 phones. I still have absolutely no idea where they found them, how they made it back to the station, how they fell out of my pocket (I think the strain of having 3 phones in the pocket opened the snap), or what happened at all, but I am certainly glad as heck that the situation was resolved.

I don't hate CP/CF but I hate the direction they're going. Live Entertainment being cut at CP. Snake River Expedition being cut back substantially and then eventually closed completely. Frontier Food Festival being cut and then cancelled. Giving away the gate, such as the $99 Gold Pass debacle that led to massive overcrowding. Park Ambassadors at KI being laid off.

In addition to concern over an object falling out of a pocket and flying off the ride (which agreed would not be a concern with a zippered or buttoned pocket), I think they're worried about people having access to their phones and pulling them out while on the ride. My phone could be 100% secured in my fanny pack, but I could still take it out after we've left the station.

Jephry:

In a time when everything feels more expensive, this is yet another thing.

Is it though? The regional amusement parks vastly undervalue their own primary product. Three of us going to a movie costs $45 before we get a single bit of popcorn. Concerts are north of a hundred bucks a ticket. Sporting events, same. The cheapest tickets at our theater for Broadway tours tends to be about $60 in the nosebleeds. Cedar Point is $110 to go all summer. For a company to be allegedly nickel/diming people, they sure do let you in cheap.

And look, I'm the first to say I'm not crazy about the direction of the company and its leadership, for many of the same reasons everyone else talks about. But I can't wrap my head around people losing their **** over three bucks, even if I do agree it should be free.

All would be well if everyone on their way to the Point stopped at the gravesite of George A. Boeckling and prayed for his spirit to heal all that is unwell at Cedar Fair! 🙏👻😏